Host plant discrimination in tropical satyrine butterflies.

Inter and intraspecific host plant choice was examined for Mycalesis terminus and M. perseus, two tropical butterfly species of the subfamily Satyrinae. The two species preferred different suites of potential host plant species, but only M. perseus discriminated between different qualities of host. Differences in selectivity between these two species may be associated with the different lengths of time over which their larval resources may be expected to persist. The level of selectivity exhibited by these tropical species appears to be greater than their temperate counterparts. Potential factors controlling differences between oviposition strategies in temperate and tropical Satyrine butterflies and other groups are discussed.